Amanda Pennell

LPC, CAADC, NCC

Welcome! My name is Amanda, and Im a licensed therapist. I believe the most important aspect of counseling is the rapport and relationship between the counselor and the client. You are the expert in your life, and we will work as a team to discuss your life choices, decisions, transitions, and work on change. It can be scary opening up to someone, and at the same time, it can be empowering. Your life, your story needs to be shared, and I want to thank you for sharing this with me. I will be your ally and advocate, but at the same time, I will figuratively hold a mirror up to you to challenge you when needed. We all need someone who will encourage us to be our best selves. Without change, there can be no growth.

“Most obstacles melt away when we make up our minds to walk boldly through them.” -Orbison Swett Marden

Approach:

My approach to counseling is simple. I care about my clients, and I want them to achieve their dreams. I tend to practice more eclectic therapy, but I lean towards solution focused, while acknowledging cultural diversity and trauma focus.

Experience:

While completing my Masters degree, I worked for CMU’s EHS building as a graduate assistant working in career counseling, and I interned at a school as a school counselor. Upon graduating with my Masters degree in Counseling, I worked as a child and family therapist at AuSable Valley Community Mental Health for three years. I then worked at Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority for seven years completing assessments, diagnoses, brief solution focused counseling, hospital diversion, crisis work and substance abuse services.

Education:

Masters in Professional Counseling with a Specialization in School Counseling from Central Michigan University in 2012.

Certificates/Licenses:

Licensed professional counselor (LPC),

Certified advanced alcohol and drug counselor (CAADC)

Nationally certified counselor (NCC)

Previously a certified school counselor (CSC)

Comprehensive Training in:

  • Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
  • Compassion Focused
  • Culturally Sensitive
  • Dialectical (DBT)
  • Eclectic
  • Emotionally Focused
  • Family Systems
  • Humanistic
  • Interpersonal
  • Intervention
  • LGBTQ
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Multicultural
  • Person-CenteredPsychodynamic
  • Reality Therapy
  • Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)
  • Strength-Based
  • Trauma-Focused

Professional Organization:

Michigan Counseling Association

Special Interests:

I have spent a large part of my career working with individuals with disabilities, children and their families, and adults with serious and persistent mental illness. I enjoy working with neurodivergent individuals, individuals who struggle with anxiety, people battling addiction, and individuals dealing with grief and loss issues. I have a background in trauma, and one aspect of my work is giving people hope again.

Areas of specialty include:

  • Addiction
  • ADHD
  • Alcohol Use
  • Anger Management
  • Anxiety
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Behavioral Issues
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Borderline Personality
  • Career Counseling
  • Child Counseling
  • Chronic Impulsivity
  • Chronic Relapse
  • Codependency
  • Coping Skills
  • Depression
  • Developmental Disorders
  • Divorce
  • Domestic Abuse
  • Domestic Violence
  • Drug Abuse
  • Dual Diagnosis
  • Eating Disorders
  • Emotional Disturbance
  • Family Conflict
  • Gambling
  • Grief
  • Hoarding
  • Intellectual Disability
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Life Coaching
  • Life Transitions
  • Marital and Premarital
  • Men’s Issues
  • Obesity
  • Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)
  • Oppositional Defiance
  • Parenting
  • Peer Relationships
  • Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum
  • Racial Identity
  • Relationship Issues
  • School Issues
  • Self-Harming
  • Self Esteem
  • Sex Therapy
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Sexual Addiction
  • Substance Use
  • Suicidal Ideation
  • Teen Violence
  • Testing and Evaluation
  • Transgender
  • Trauma and PTSD
  • Weight Loss
  • Women’s Issue

Outside Work Interests:

When Im not helping people, I enjoy gardening and spending time
with my family. I love camping in Michigan, and exploring the beauty of our state. I also enjoy reading, shopping and traveling!

Contact Us Confidentially:

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